LOVES PARK — Listing sponsors on jerseys and uniforms is nothing new for auto racing or soccer.

But professional baseball in America has avoided the trend.

Until now.

The Rockford RiverHawks are believed to be the first professional baseball organization in the United States wearing jerseys adorned with sponsor logos for every home and away game. Many teams have done it for special promotional nights, but it’s unheard of as a regular practice.

“We’ve been told we are the first American pro baseball team to do this,” RiverHawks general manager Brad Sholes said. “It’s worked out really well for everyone involved, so we’re happy with it.”

The RiverHawks wear a patch for Max Muscle on the top of the backs of the jerseys — the place where generally the player’s last name goes. Max Muscle is a sports nutrition store on Broadcast Parkway in Loves Park that has committed to sponsor the RiverHawks this way next year.

There is also a patch on the sleeve for Premier Fitness, a gym and health club on North Perryville Road.

“The big thing is, it is another way of giving some exposure to local companies and giving us more involvement with the community,” club President Bryan Wickline said. “There are a lot of old-school people out there who look at it and don’t like it, but wait five years. You’ll see it. ”

Manager Rich Austin brought the idea to the organization last offseason. The team was in need of new jerseys, so to supplement the cost, Austin suggested sponsor logos.

“I just thought of some of the places where I’ve played — Mexico, Columbia, Italy — and all our uniforms were filled with sponsors,” he said. “On the pants, on the sleeves, on the back and the front. Everywhere.

“When we called our commissioner and asked if there is any kind of league rule, he said no. As long as there’s the Frontier League patch, that’s the only thing they need.

“I know some people who say ‘Well, that doesn’t belong on a pro baseball uniform,’ so I guess there are positives and negatives. One thing with the uniforms in this league, there aren’t a lot of last names on them anyway because there is a lot of turnover going on. It might take off, but it’s something new, so it’s good.”

Sholes would not comment on how much the sponsors paid to get their logos on the jerseys, but he thinks it could generate substantial revenue for some teams.

“Maybe not the (major league) teams, but I think eventually you’ll see it more and more at this level,” Sholes said. “We’ve seen it in the WNBA. European soccer teams are making millions of dollars on it.

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“Down the road, the money some corporations will pay just to get their name on that jersey is going to be too much to turn down.”